US5031859AExpiredUtility

Lift-producing machine or device

57
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 26, 1989Filed: Jul 26, 1989Granted: Jul 16, 1991
Est. expiryJul 26, 2009(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John Cunningham
B64C 2230/04B64C 2230/16Y02T50/10B64C 23/00B64C 29/0041B64C 2230/06
57
PatentIndex Score
28
Cited by
27
References
44
Claims

Abstract

A thrust-producing device comprises a body having a surface and a periphery and disposed in a first fluid; a generator for imparting energy to a second fluid; and a distributor connected to the generator, disposed adjacent the surface, for distributing the second fluid in a first stream over and adjacent the surface for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of the surface with the first stream and causing the first stream to be initially sufficiently unattached to the surface to define a closed volume between the surface and the first stream. The distributor imparts sufficient velocity to the first stream for permitting a substantial portion of the first stream to reach beyond at least a portion of the body periphery and to partially evacuate by entrainment the volume and to create a low pressure within the volume relative to a pressure of the first fluid and to generate a second stream within the volume; whereby at least a substantial portion of the first stream is deflected angularly and around at least a portion of the body by the dynamic interaction of the first stream with the first fluid and the second stream and the low pressure within the closed volume, and whereby the at least a substantial portion of the first stream entrains a portion of the first fluid to produce a combined resultant fluid flow which proceeds angularly and around at least a portion of the body, thereby creating a resultant thrust force acting on the body. A method for producing thrust for a body is also disclosed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I claim: 
     
       1. A thrust-producing device, comprising: (a) a body having a surface and a periphery;   (b) said surface and periphery being disposed in a first fluid;   (c) means for imparting energy to a second fluid;   (d) means operably associated with said energy imparting means, disposed adjacent said surface, for distributing said second fluid in a first stream over and adjacent said surface for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of said surface with said first stream and causing said first stream to be initially sufficiently unattached to said surface to define a substantially closed volume, relative to the first fluid, between said at least a portion of said surface and said first stream;   (e) means operably associated with said distributing means for imparting sufficient velocity to said first stream for permitting a substantial portion of said first stream to reach beyond at least a portion of said body periphery and to partially evacuate by entrainment said volume and to create a low pressure within said volume relative to a pressure of said first fluid and to generate a second stream within said volume;   (f) said first stream remaining substantially unattached to said surface prior to reaching said at least a portion of said body periphery;   (g) whereby at least a substantial portion of said first stream is deflected angularly around at least a portion of said body by the dynamic interaction of said first stream with the first fluid and the second stream and the low pressure within said volume, and whereby said at least a substantial portion of said first stream entrains a portion of the first fluid to produce a combined resultant fluid flow, thereby creating a resultant thrust force acting on said body.   
     
     
       2. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 1, and including: a) means for controlling said first stream.   
     
     
       3. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 2, wherein: a) said controlling means includes movable surfaces disposed on said body surface.   
     
     
       4. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 2, wherein: a) said controlling means includes variable apertures disposed on said body surface.   
     
     
       5. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 2, wherein: a) said controlling means includes means for altering the geometry of said body.   
     
     
       6. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 2, wherein: a) said controlling means includes means for varying the inclination of said first stream relative to said surface.   
     
     
       7. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 2, wherein: a) said controlling means includes means for varying the distance between said first stream and said surface.   
     
     
       8. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 2, wherein: a) said controlling means includes means for varying the flow rate of said first stream.   
     
     
       9. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 1, wherein: (a) said distributing means includes means for directing said first stream in an arc.   
     
     
       10. A thrust-producing device, as in claim 9, wherein: (a) said arc is 360 degrees.   
     
     
       11. A thrust-producing device as in claim 1, wherein: (a) said distributing means includes means for directing said first stream in a substantially unidirectional flow.   
     
     
       12. A vehicle comprising: (a) a housing;   (b) means associated with said housing for controlling direction of the vehicle during travel;   (c) a thrust-producing system disposed in a first fluid and operably associated with said housing;   (d) said system having a surface and a periphery;   (e) means operably associated with said system for imparting energy to a second fluid;   (f) means operably associated with said energy imparting means, disposed adjacent said surface, for distributing said second fluid in a first stream over and adjacent said surface for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of said surface with said first stream and causing said first stream to be initially sufficiently unattached to said surface to define a substantially closed volume, relative to the first fluid, between said at least a portion of said surface and said first stream;   (g) means operably associated with said system for controlling said first stream;   (h) means operably associated with said distributing means for imparting sufficient velocity to said first stream for permitting a substantial portion of said first stream to reach beyond at least a portion of said periphery and to partially evacuate by entrainment said volume and to create a low pressure within said volume relative to a pressure of said first fluid and to generate a second stream within said volume;   (i) said first stream remaining substantially unattached to said surface prior to reaching said at least a portion of said periphery;   (j) whereby at least a substantial portion of said first stream is deflected angularly around at least a portion of said thrust-producing system by the dynamic interaction of said first stream with the first fluid and the second stream and the low pressure within said volume, and whereby said at least a substantial portion of said first stream entrains a portion of the first fluid to produce a combined resultant fluid flow, thereby creating a resultant thrust force acting on said system and said housing.   
     
     
       13. A vehicle as in claim 11, wherein: (a) said vehicle is an aircraft.   
     
     
       14. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: (a) said aircraft includes wing surfaces.   
     
     
       15. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: (a) said surface is disposed substantially horizontally for providing vertical lift force.   
     
     
       16. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: (a) said surface is disposed substantially vertically for providing a horizontal thrust force.   
     
     
       17. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: (a) said periphery is curvilinear in shape.   
     
     
       18. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: (a) said periphery is rectilinear in shape.   
     
     
       19. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said periphery is a combined curvilinear and rectilinear in shape.   
     
     
       20. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said system includes an airfoil cross-section for providing lift to the aircraft during normal horizontal flight.   
     
     
       21. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes means for varying the flow rate of said first stream.   
     
     
       22. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes means for varying the inclination of the axis of said first stream relative to said surface.   
     
     
       23. A vehicle as in claim 22, wherein: a) said varying means includes a gimbals.   
     
     
       24. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes means for varying the distance between the axis of said first stream and said surface.   
     
     
       25. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes means for varying the flow characteristics of at least a portion of said first stream.   
     
     
       26. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes movable surfaces disposed on said surface.   
     
     
       27. A vehicle as in claim 26, wherein: a) said movable surfaces includes pivotable surfaces.   
     
     
       28. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes variable apertures disposed on said surface.   
     
     
       29. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes movable surfaces disposed on said housing.   
     
     
       30. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said first stream controlling means includes means for altering the geometry of said periphery.   
     
     
       31. A vehicle as in claim 13, and including: a) means for retracting said distributing means into the aircraft.   
     
     
       32. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said housing includes at least a wing surface on each side of said housing; and   b) said distributing means includes orifices along portions of said housing above each of said at least a wing surface.   
     
     
       33. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said distributing means includes means for varying the discharge flow pattern of said first stream.   
     
     
       34. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said housing includes motive means.   
     
     
       35. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said system includes motive means.   
     
     
       36. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein: a) said system includes control surfaces for flight control.   
     
     
       37. A vehicle as in claim 36, wherein: (a) said control surfaces includes movable surfaces.   
     
     
       38. A method for providing thrust for a body which includes a surface having a periphery, said body being disposed in a first fluid under pressure, said method comprising the steps of: (a) imparting energy to a second fluid;   (b) distributing said second fluid in a first stream over and adjacent a surface of a body for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of said surface with said first stream and causing said first stream to be initially sufficiently unattached to said surface to define a substantially closed volume, relative to the first fluid, between said at least a portion of said surface and said first stream;   (c) imparting sufficient velocity to said first stream for permitting a substantial portion of said first stream to reach beyond at least a portion of said body periphery and to partially evacuate by entrainment said volume and to create a low pressure within said volume relative to a pressure of said first fluid and to generate a second stream within said volume, said first stream remaining substantially unattached to said surface prior to reaching said at least a portion of said body periphery;   (d) whereby at least a substantial portion of said first stream is deflected angularly around at least a portion of said body by the dynamic interaction of said first stream with the first fluid and the second stream and the low pressure within said volume, and whereby said at least a substantial portion of said first stream entrains a portion of the first fluid to produce a combined resultant fluid flow, thereby creating a resultant thrust force acting on said body.   
     
     
       39. A method, as in claim 38, and including the step of: (a) altering the geometry of said volume for modulating the thrust generated by said first stream.   
     
     
       40. A method, as in claim 38, and including the step of: (a) throttling said first stream for modulating the thrust generated by said first stream.   
     
     
       41. A method, as in claim 38, and including the step of: (a) selectively altering the flow characteristics of portions of said first stream for controlling the balance of thrust generated by said first stream.   
     
     
       42. A method for deflecting a fluid flow in an ambient fluid envelope comprising the steps of: (a) providing a body having a surface and a periphery;   (b) generating a fluid flow having sufficient energy to reach beyond at least a portion of said periphery of said body;   (c) distributing said fluid flow over said surface for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of said surface with said fluid flow;   (d) positioning said fluid flow so that said fluid flow is adjacent and initially sufficiently unattached to said surface, thereby defining a substantially closed volume, relative to the ambient fluid, between said fluid flow and said at least a portion of said surface;   (e) partially evacuating the fluid within said volume, thereby creating low pressure within said volume;   (f) allowing said fluid flow to reach beyond said at least a portion of said periphery, said fluid flow remaining substantially unattached to said surface prior to reaching said at least a portion of said periphery;   (g) whereby at least a substantial portion of said fluid flow is deflected angularly around at least a portion of said body by the dynamic interaction of said fluid flow with the ambient fluid and the fluid within said volume.   
     
     
       43. A thrust-producing device, comprising: (a) a body having a surface and a periphery;   (b) said surface and periphery being disposed in a first fluid;   (c) means for imparting energy to a second fluid;   (d) means operably associated with said energy imparting means, disposed above said surface, for distributing said second fluid in a first stream over and adjacent said surface for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of said surface with said first stream and causing said first stream to be initially sufficiently unattached to said surface to define a substantially closed volume, relative to the first fluid, between said at least a portion of said surface and said first stream;   (e) means operably associated with said distributing means for imparting sufficient velocity to said first stream for permitting a substantial portion of said first stream to reach beyond at least a portion of said body periphery and to partially evacuate by entrainment said volume and to create a low pressure within said volume relative to a pressure of said first fluid and to generate a second stream within said volume;   (f) whereby at least a substantial portion of said first stream is deflected angularly around at least a portion of said body by the dynamic interaction of said first stream with the first fluid and the second stream and the low pressure within said volume, and whereby said at least a substantial portion of said first stream entrains a portion of the first fluid to produce a combined resultant fluid flow, thereby creating a resultant thrust force acting on said body.   
     
     
       44. A method for providing thrust for a body which includes a surface having a periphery, said body being disposed in a first fluid under pressure, said method comprising the steps of: (a) imparting energy to a second fluid;   providing means disposed above a surface of a body for distributing said second fluid in a first stream over said surface;   (c) distributing said second fluid in said first stream over and adjacent said surface for blanketing and enclosing at least a portion of said surface with said first stream and causing said first stream to be initially sufficiently unattached to said surface to define a substantially closed volume, relative to the first fluid, between said at least a portion of said surface and said first stream;   (d) imparting sufficient velocity to said first stream for permitting a substantial portion of said first stream to reach beyond at least a portion of said body periphery and to partially evacuate by entrainment said volume and to create a low pressure within said volume relative to a pressure of said first fluid and to generate a second stream within said volume;   (e) whereby at least a substantial portion of said first stream is deflected angularly around at least a portion of said body by the dynamic interaction of said first stream with the first fluid and the second stream and the low pressure within said volume, and whereby said at least a substantial portion of said first stream entrains a portion of the first fluid to produce a combined resultant fluid flow, thereby creating a resultant thrust force acting on said body.

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